Cinema - Comments / Reviews by Magic Marmalade

Cinema - Comments / Reviews by Magic Marmalade

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
Magic Marmalade 9th Jul 2023		Cinema Local Hero (1983) (1983)	Rated 9/10 I'ts only taken me decades to do, but finally got around to watching this... (I'd always pushed it back thinking it was going to be a cheap piece of shonk) ...And as reviews like the one below tell, I was wrong, and they are absolutely spot on! Magnificent movie. Very odd, though, it doesn't, aside from the basic premise of a guy sent to buy up piece of coastline for an oil company, seem to have a plot. ...It doesn't seem to have anything by way of traditional shifts in the story that would recognisably be considered "drama" - no struggles, no antagonist, or villain, no "all is lost" moment, no real act or acts of overt "heroism"... It just... is. And what it is, is gentle, warm, lightly funny, quirky, stunningly beautiful to look at, and is a veritable warm hearth of a movie, which will henceforth, serve as a great comfort food of a movie. Why did it take me so long?!!! All it is, based on the premise mentioned above, is a big city business type (not objectionable in any way, or cartoonish, or a caricature) dropped in this stunning little world of this village on the coast, and it, and the people there, just go to work on him; Eroding him until he, by degrees falls in love with the place and people. As will you, if you haven't seen it yet, and intend to watch it. Sublime. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 5th Jul 2023		Cinema Deathtrap (1982) (1982)	Rated 9/10 Another stage-play adaptation (of sorts) in the Murder / Mystery category, with just three central characters (and a couple of other instrumental characters). This time, Michael Caine takes on the role of the once successful / now hitting the skids play-write mentoring a young, prodigiously talented play-write in the shape of Christopher Reeve, at his "modest" yet cosy Windmill conversion house, with Caine's incredibly highly strung wife at his side, hosting the young prodigy. This is a wildly hammy, mega-schlock kitsch-to-the-eyeballs, overacted , stagey melodramatic affair, but I love it :) ...Even in spite of Dyan Cannon's mega annoying character, as well as the equally infuriating and unbelievable psychic (I kid you not) nosey next door neighbour, each with the acting to match (although allowances must be made, as this was clearly on purpose). But the real stand out here is Christopher Reeve, who, being a big guy, and an imposing enough Prescence to land him the role of Superman, put it's to great use here, not as the ultimate good guy super-hero, but rather, a truly terrifying character - You might not believe this man can fly, but you certainly will believe you'd not turn your back on him if you ever met him! But great fun, and I've always enjoyed watching it late night in the winter months. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 5th Jul 2023		Cinema Sleuth (1972)	Rated 10/10 Still the best of it's kind for me! This was probably my earliest introduction murder mystery / stageplay movies, and it remains entrancing to me all these years later. Just two dudes in a room (a very BIG room.. in a very BIG manor house in the country) trying to out-wit, and out-do each other in the ultimate, deadly game of cat and mouse. - OK, so the "twist" probably won't fool many, if any, but it's the drama, and the acting, as well as the portrayal of very specific character tropes of the time: Olivier's arrogant, upper-crust English Aristocrat gentleman sleuth novelist of leisure, set against Caine's lower class cockney / immigrant / new blood / new money, comparatively youthful type that makes this endlessly captivating. ...So much so, that you find yourself perfectly prepared to consciously suspend any disbelief you will undoubtedly have, and go along for the ride. (As opposed to having to be convinced by the movie makers to do so, by any contrivance of theirs) Still the gold standard of tightly focused murder mystery movies for me. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 4th Jul 2023		Cinema Zui Quan (Drunken Master) (1978) (1978)	Rated 8/10 Story idea: pretty good. Script and dialogue: ouch! Acting: Yikes! Fight choreography: Mind bendingly brilliant. It's this last that makes this fun and compelling to watch right through to the end, and makes the other less than acceptable points I alluded to tolerable. Going on the acting and script, this would be a 3 or 4 /10 - the choreography alone adds the extra points in my rating. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 4th Jul 2023		Cinema Reservoir Dogs (1992) (1992)	I don't think it is possible for me to overstate the impact and importance of this movie on me personally, or indeed others, who like me, were lucky enough to have seen it at the cinema at time of release... ...I remember, having reached the pitch of "Hollywood superstar vehicle movies" fare prior to this, me and some friends, went because we thought it might "be cool"... (Teenagers eh?!? - ha ha :) ...And sitting transfixed in the cinema, and it being like: "What the hell is this? - is this what a movie can be?.... in the cinema?!!!" - not our usual diet of big budget action schlock. We all walked out the cinema in frowny, thoughtful silence. ...Something has, or was about to change, dramatically in cinema, I felt, and indeed, I think this certainly allowed things like Pulp Fiction to be accepted by a wider audience. The only other moment in culture I can remember in my lifetime, that represented as dramatic a shift, or push into some other space than the usual was the release of the Nirvana album: Nevermind. ...almost literally, overnight, everything that had gone before was redundant, and quite simply "over", and now... this. (In the case of Nevermind, there were ever increasing levels of unrelatable absurdity in hair metal, consuming all the cultural oxygen in rock, least... then: BANG! Teen Spirit! - you hair metallers are done - find new occupations please. Of course, now I have a nostalgic appreciation for those old permy rockers - "How I learned to stop wirrying and love hair metal" :) But this is still my fave of the Quinisters - because it was (consciously) the first.
Magic Marmalade 2nd Jul 2023		Cinema National Treasure (2004) (2004)	Rated 8/10 >Attention, Disillusioned Indiana Jones Fans! - look here< Having not been inspired at all, from the moment of announcement (even before the inevitable hoo-ha) of a new Indiana Jones movie, and knowing that some / many will be disappointed with the new offering... ...I would instead, direct the attention of crypto-archaeology adventure fans to this, and it's sequel. After Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, this is what a 21st century Indiana Jones movie ought to look and feel like! Indeed, after much thought, I have concluded that the reason Raiders, and Last Crusade worked, and endured, where Temple, and these two newer ones don't is because those former two take a pre-existing, and enduring sources of general fascination: The Ark Of The Covenant, And The Holy Grail, whose enduring myths always draw the audience's attention, regardless of whether it is set in an action adventure movie or not, but then place an iconic Sherlock Holmes / James Bond type character capable, and dynamic enough to explore those myths, and fathom them out, in an exciting, and intriguing manner we ourselves are not able to. So the problem, from the get- go, with Temple Of Doom (for a western audience at least) was the subject of his adventure there - stones (whaa?), Crystal Skulls (more recent modern hocum from the proto- conspiracy theorist shack), and most recently, some kind of metaphysical bullshit clock, invented by lazy writers, I imagine, who have no grounding in history, and the stuff that elicits the intrigue of an audience. *Who cares!?!* No, Indiana Jones is merely our guide to those subjects, which already hold our imaginations. And that's where this comes in... ...Same basic set-up, with Nick Cage's geeky, reluctant Historian adventurer getting drawn into a web of historical intrigue, around just the kind of historical curiosities (albeit of more modern vintage) that were so interesting when adventuring through Ark OTC, or The Holy G territory. And what's more, it's a cracking good ride! (Just like Indy used to be) Great family fun, that doesn't treat you like an imbecile. So don't watch that worn out old pair of shoes, watch this... and get from it what you wanted from that Dial business in the first place! ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 1st Jul 2023		Cinema Amadeus (1984) (1984)	I think this the textbook example of that line from Liberty Valance: "When the legend becomes fact... print the legend" (More or less) ...In that the impact of this screenplay and movie has probably become the truth of the life and death of Mozart, and cast another historical figure: Composer: Salieri, in a very dim light indeed, to the extent the poor guy has been all but damned to hell, reputationally speaking. One thing has crossed my mind just recently, is how similar the parallels are between the recent movie: Whiplash, and this. (I wonder if this was an influence on it?)
Magic Marmalade 1st Jul 2023		Cinema Nil By Mouth (1997) (1997)	Very tough watch. But a great portrayal of an abusive relationship, and examination of what may be behind it.
Magic Marmalade 17th Jun 2023		Cinema Ghost World (2001) (2001)	Rated 8/10 Too cool for school... ...And most definitely too cool for you... as well as just about everybody else in the world. This quirky oddment of a movie, was, as I vaguely recall, part of a spate (I may be overstating the case) of adaptations of graphic novels / comics of the more everyday / unusual variety that occurred about this time... (I think, Napoleon Dynamite, and perhaps that roller skating thing with (now) Elliot Page (might have been one?) among others) It is a basic portrait of the kind of teen girl you may well have encountered, or may well know, for whom the whole world is just lame, and pathetic, as is everyone in it, and largely exists to be mocked and regarded as some kind of freak show wildlife documentary, simply there for her amusement, and to be the objects of her disdain. ...Such is Enid, who, along with her friend and observational ally Rebecca in this walk through laboratory / human zoo of life, is about to graduate from school and step into the adult world (also, indeed, especially lame), and move into an apartment together, and get their big plans in motion. Everyone around them seems to be just drifting, like ghosts, going nowhere in particular, and doing nothing of any importance, in this nowhere town, unlike them, who have it all weighed off nicely. ...Which, of course, consistent with life's delightful way, is proven to them, well, in particular, Enid, they most certainly do not. Enid faces changes at home, with her single father dating someone new (very threatening). Rebecca seeems to be taking the step a little more seriously than Enid - having a job etc. and so seems to be beginning to drift away from Enid a little, as well as a superflake art teacher (Veronica Cartwright giving one of her career best performances in deadpan comedic genius mode) getting her into trouble due to a picture she cynically entered into an exhibition and which she lifted form new found acquaintance / friend Seymour. Seymour being a particular object of amusement that Enid decides to mess about with one day, being, as he is, a super - geek, as well as a collector of rare and valuable blues 78s (So particular interest for users of this site! :)... ...But as life seems to be getting away from her, and friends and people drift away, Seymour unconsciously becomes her only remaining friend... over time, and quite against her original intentions, a real friend. Enid may not be so very cool, and aloof after all, as she discovers she may be the only real ghost in her world, lonely, and dislocated, while everyone else is getting on with living life. This movie has that indie vibe, very much in the Clerks (with a budget) style, as we follow these two girls (primarily Enid) as they drift around town, chatting, and going nowhere in particular. One or two things may not make the cut for the modern cancel crowd, or at the very least, raise an eyebrow, which in itself is shocking, given how relatively recently this movie was made, but if you go a little deeper in it's intentions, it's humour and sensibility, beyond the superficial, and see how these things serve the story, and plot, you find a very sharply written, minor cult classic wihch is a great watch. Could also be re-titled: The Disabuse-ment of Certain Erroneous Notions Of Life As Held By Enid, The Girl Who (Thought She) Was Better Than Everyone Else. (But that's quite a mouthful, so Ghost World, will do :) 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 8th Jun 2023		Cinema Drive (2011)	Just upgraded my rating of this to a flat out 10 out of 10... ...After watching (yet!) again, I have concluded this film is... Perfect. Perfect runtime, pacing, acting, story, atmosphere (which it has in spades, so as to have the feel of something like: John Caprenter does Vanishing Point. Low-fi Electronica score: perfect, signature lead song, which really lends this some heart: perfect... The two most central characters (including the excellent Carey Mulligan) who talk the least, but say the most: perfect. This, is one I feel I'm going to naturally gravitate back to on a "more than is healthy for me" basis... ...very regularly, possibly bordering on the obsessive :) (Haven't felt a movie captivate me this much, in this way since Blade Runner!) Now my favourite film of the last twenty years.
Magic Marmalade 5th Jun 2023		Cinema Running Scared (1986) (1986)	What the hell happened to this movie? It used to be on TV all the time, and was one of the staples of Billy Crystal’s filmography... now, all but vanished from existence! …Even a cursory look on Amazon and eBay shows the DVD seems to be quite rare, and with a somewhat marked up price as a result. I haven’t seen it for a fair while, but remember it being quite a fun movie…did it not age well, such as modern sensibilities might not approve of…or are there background rights issues or something?
Magic Marmalade 5th Jun 2023		Cinema Blue Steel (1989)	Time seems to have almost forgotten this excellent movie. Jamie Lee Curtis really carries this well, as a very tough, strong character, in a very dramatic, chilling thriller.
Magic Marmalade 5th Jun 2023		Cinema Deliverance (1972) (1972)	I always felt this was over-rated... more of a cult movie due to a basic concept, and reputed for one notorious scene, rather than being an especially good film.
Magic Marmalade 31st May 2023		Cinema Sophie's Choice (1982) (1982)	Rated 6/10 Another movie who's reputation and even who's title, has become a part of modern cultural reference... ...But having finally watched it, I was somewhat disappointed. Of course, there's the great central performance by Meryl Streep, and a strong, sympathetic supporting role by Peter MacNicol, but Kevin Kline over does it somewhat, albeit, playing a deeply disturbed individual (He's giving an almost Fish Called Wanda skit, at the very least, it's very... theatre). But this aside, it's two things that underwhelm, and detract from this tale of an immigrant with a dark and horrific secret from her past: Firstly, it feels like a made for TV movie (Was it?), which may be forgivable, if it was, but it feels cheaper in the production than the subject and it's aspirations require. ...And secondly, it's feels oddly structured, like two separate movies tacked sequentially onto each other: The first section being like The Great Gatsby, a very jazz age tale of American urban life shared between three friends and their difficulties, then it goes back to world war two Europe, and is a Holocaust movie... The contrast in styles, and tones is jarring. I wonder if perhaps, this was made today, an editor or director might intersperse some of the latter element in the first American section, and vice versa, in order to foreshadow, suggest, or intimate the real underlying story, and even the tone, and indeed, even out the movie itself. Maybe it would be possible to re-edit, and restructure the existing film in that way? Doing this, might even elevate the whole experience to something more worthy of the film's reputation. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 31st May 2023		Cinema The Pianist (2002)	Rated 9/10 A tough watch, but ultimately rewarding. What begins as a very civilized lifestyle for a gifted pianist turns, by degrees into Schindler's list, and finally something akin to the Tom Hanks movie: Castaway, as the Nazis invade, take over, then the entire city is bombed flat, to resemble a post-apocalyptic moonscape, the ruins among which, Brody's character: Władysław Szpilman, must scrape and hide to survive, all the while, avoiding being blown to bits, or captured by the Nazis. It's essentially the story of one man's adapting to survive, and in so doing, having the layers of civilization stripped systematically from him. A remarkable true story too. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 30th May 2023		Cinema Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998) (1998)	Rated 8/10 It's strange, watching this at a distance of some years now, in that we are as far from the date of release, as the date of release was from the events depicted in this movie... ...And yet the background mood of reactionary conservative repression created by the "squares" of the time, flinching in moral panic at the licentiousness of the sixties and seventies, and seeking to squash it out at all costs, and who's puritanical, narrow lines of social acceptability seemed positively absurd to me back then... as if the world could be so ridiculously straight, and judgemental, certainly not in the comparatively liberal and enlightened nineties... ...Thank God we're over that, I thought (!) Indeed, it seemed such repressive society almost demanded a semi-psychotic anti-hero (and his attorney :) brandishing his wildly crazed, relentlessly drug fuelled Gonzo journalism like a wrecking ball, to smash, head-long through the social mores of the times, and break almost every taboo they could find as they went. In order that the human spirit should not entirely succumb to such impositions. (Well, it's a fine excuse, anyway!) Be that as it may, it seems further away from the nutty, hilariously cartoonish picture of wild exaggerated, mythologised excess, or a depraved "psyche" movie that seemed to be the culmination of the nineties style of off the wall movie that I used to watch it as entertainment, but now, rather a bench mark of just how far we seem to have fallen into the seventh circle of moral hell since that time... so much so, this new millennium at times seems to make the fifties seem like a very liberal, open minded time by comparison! Watch this then, for all the social commentary and pjilosphophy an old fart like me might ramble on about, or watch to see a movie that you would simply sit and think: "Well, they couldn't get away with making this kind of thing anymore!", or sit and watch the brilliantly funny characterisations Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro give of two of the most improbable human beings ever to walk the earth, or just put aside the trendy wokery for a spell, and bean-bag that old brain of yours Google boy, and just have fun watching an excessive, degenerate thrill ride that will have you laughing all the way through... ...Because it's fun. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 29th May 2023		Cinema Outland (1981) (1981)	Yes, every major actor ought to have a couple of lo-fi, slow burner, cult type films in their resume like this. This was one of those that I grew up seeing every now and then parked on one of the lesser stations, late at night, and which totally beguiled me, and really informed, and formed by taste in movies... ... Very much moviedrome fodder! (For those in the UK, who may remember that :) Can't believe some of the stuff my parents let me watch at that age. (It's a wonder I'm not completely screwed up! (Twitch, twitch.... Shudder.... Twitch... "Arse!"... Twitch :) I think it's movies like this that make me really appreciate others of more modern vintage like Drive, You were never really here, and the works of Michael Mann... ... All about the atmosphere and mood. (Also why I prefer to watch movies on my phone now, as opposed to all that home cinema lark... More intimate, personal, and immersive, like when all I used to have was a small 14" colour TV by my bed, which would illuminate my room as the only source of light, and draw me in, in a way all that modern CGI 3D pizzazz never could)
Magic Marmalade 28th May 2023		Cinema Outland (1981) (1981)	Rated 8/10 Essentially, a western set in space, with Sean Connery's Sherriff type, thrust into the middle of a conspiracy / intrigue to do with the criminal activities of a shady corporation. He's basically Wyatt Earp, come to bring a little law to this outpost, but unusually (and refreshingly) for Connery, while he is the standard tough guy, he is not without a sense of vulnerability here. ...And it's a film essentially brought to you by the majority of the production team that made Alien, and it carries much of that look, feel, vibe of deep space horror created there. Very underrated in my book. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 24th May 2023		Cinema Donnie Darko (2001) (2001)	I watched this again last night on my phone... (Was in the garden - lovely evening - one too many ales and dry roasted peanuts :) ...Noticed something I think I'd always been aware of, but had not joined the dots before for some reason: A big fat easter egg / unequivocal clue as to what is going on in this movie, and what it's all about is presented when Donnie goes to the cinema, and one of the movies playing there is: The Last Temptation Of Christ. (Bit of a heavy and obscure reference, but if you've seen that, it'll help getting your head around this somewhat - although I actually came away from last night's viewing with even more questions regarding the time frames presented here.... hmmmm.) Also, it has to be stated here that there is perhaps one of the best lines of dialogue in movie history: *"Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!"* (Cracks me up every time I see it :)
Magic Marmalade 22nd May 2023		Cinema Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) (1998) (1998)	Rated 9/10 Iconic nineties movie. It's groundhog day... all over again! But here, the now well established (and somewhat overused) device of reliving a single time frame over and over again until you get it right is contracted to the space of about an hour, where Lola must run as fast as she can, to reach her boyfriend before he robs a supermarket to get a stack of cash to replace one he lost on a train, and which was intended to be paid to the local mob. ...If she doesn't get there, and find a way to get the cash along the way, boyfriend Manni has a run in with the cops, and gets shot. She must keep doing this until she finds the right route through this time span to get there in time with cash in hand, and so prevent Manni's doom. A very bright, very kinetic movie (as you'd expect) that doesn't slow down much to catch it's breath, and has a really inventive, yet simple storytelling device woven in, whereby, if she does something different in her interactions with the people she encounters along the way, a series of Polaroid snaps outlining that person's new alternate future clicks rapidly through, following the legend: "And then..." (Saves filming entire sequences, and packs the new future story into a matter of seconds). Everyone I knew saw this in the nineties - was a bit of "A thing" back then... and more than a few people I knew had this poster on their wall too. Great fun. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 21st May 2023		Cinema La Vie D'Adèle (Blue Is The Warmest Colour) (2013) (2013)	Rated 5/10 A masterpiece trapped inside an abomination. This is another one of those movies that less, certainly would have amounted to so much more. In this case... less sex. I know, how very prudish or puritanical of me! Certainly, I've never been one to consider myself as such, but find myself having more and more reason for complaint as I get older. ...And it's not, as I say, for reasons of moral indignation, but rather, for actual storytelling, and movie making reasons that I find myself infuriated by these kinds of films: All the extra time you spend dwelling, or fixating on the sex, is, for me, time you are not telling an actual story, and cutting into the natural storytelling rhythms, that can make a movie more sublime, poetic, and well rounded, as well as more dramatic, poignant, meaningful, and impactful. For this could have been beautiful. ...A subtly, and deftly told coming of age story of a young teen girl struggling to get to grips with her sexual awakening, as well as her sexuality. Set among the classroom peer pressures of highschool life, where she feels compelled to contain all these feelings, until she ventures out one night, and meets an slightly older, artistic, pseudo-intellectual type young gay woman, who she is instantly smitten with, if not slightly overawed by, and with whom she strikes up a freindship. leading to the inevitable relationship, and even "love". So it is in essence, a coming of age lesbian love story. ... so far, so good. .....But then..... damn! Basically, they spend extensive sessions of awkward porn style pretzel sex bouts, which go on way too long... (So as you find yourself checking your watch, as well as forgetting there was a story going on somewhere there, that for some - ahem - reason completely went out of my mind) ... as well as being disturbingly graphic... to the extent that if this is not actual sex, but merely simulated, then I struggle to see the point in having bothered to simulate it. And of course, I see after a couple of attempts to watch this film, and get past the idea that it's just some creepy voyeuristic heterosexual male director / filmmaker using "making a movie" merely as an excuse to exploit young actresses for his own personal pleasure. It feels dishonest. ...And makes you feel grubby, and like you are participating in this exploitation just by watching it take place - like you tacitly agree with this - which I do not. The worst thing is, on more than one occasion, a momentary, involuntary glance at camera from one of these actresses which seems to speak of confusion and uncertainty about what they have been asked to do, only hammers this horrible feeling home to you the viewer. It feels like witnessing a crime to watch it. Now, the overall plot, and point of the movie is actually a really good one - in that two people who "fall in love" despite some very apparent differences between them, may well be confusing sex with love, or even infatuation with love... to the extent that I begin to suspect this is not about love, or even a gay relationship, or even a healthy sexual relationship, but more a tale of addiction. Sexual addiction, and a shared, and mutual sexual addiction at that. This is then essentially a tale of two sex junkies, addicted to each other, and don't know how to control this need in themselves, or square it to their lives. Actually quite a tragic tale. And told on it's own, could have been a classic, indeed, a masterpiece. Unfortunately, it's trapped inside an unnecessarily absurd, over-long, overly- graphic, grubby series of porn flick episodes that totally detract from a, kill the wonderful tragic tale beneath. Again... not a prude, I just feel that if a director feels he wants to make porn, then do so, you only need ten minutes of that everyone consenting, everybody happy, and you need not then try to pretend it's "drama", and porn doesn't need a Shakespearean plot under it. Get in, get out, go home - wham, bam.... etc (so to speak) But at least this would then be honest about, and with itself. And at a three hour runtime, I do not exaggerate to say you could, by means of editorial excavation, lose at least half hour to forty five minutes of unnecessary movie flab, and porn, still make your points about the nature of their relationship, and have brilliant movie as the end result. But as it is, it is too uncomfortable a watch. 3 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 12th May 2023		Cinema Spanking The Monkey (1994) (1994)	Rated 7/10 Excellent film, if somewhat...er... controversial. (To say the least!!!) Basically, it's the story of a young guy on the threshold of adult life, with lots of pressures bearing on him, and in his attempts to find a moment or two to himself... for... er... a little relief (ahem) discovers that that inner tension builds to an unbearable degree. Something has to give. ...And does, in a way, that... er ... is.... um... yikes! (far be it for me to offer spoilers, but I think it advisable to let you know what you're getting into in this case, as Oedipal incest ensues. Crumbs!) When a movie has such a big talking point, especially one of such a controversial magnitude around a very particular taboo, it tends to push all other considerations aside, and how good the movie is, the performances, and indeed the story being told, and how well it is told tend to get lost in the mix, overwhelmed by the degree to which the one nugget of outrage that public discourse latches onto becomes. For on all other of these counts, this is brilliant... a lightly, wryly handled comic / tragic portrait of a very confused young man's struggle to realize himself in the approaching adult world. This has become a bit of a back-burner, low key cult classic indie movie, which, even the most broad minded tend to not mention in polite society. It likely won't appear any time soon in your TV for these reasons, and it might be difficult to find on any media too... but stands as a good example of how to go about tackling the toughest of subjects. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 28th Apr 2023		Cinema I ♥ Huckabees (I Heart Huckabees) (2004) (2004)	Rated 5/10 Not half as clever as it likes to think it is, or wants you to think it is. Another noisy neighbour! ...As I've come to think of those movies that seem to hum away in the background of your consciousness, occasionally bubbling up to the surface of conversation as some kind of cult classic contender, or unappreciated prospective masterpiece, to quote Peter Griffin: "It insists upon itself", until you finally relent, and watch the thing. And for the most part such movies have not yet disappointed: Crazy Stupid Love, The Before Trilogy (such as I have seen so far!), have knocked it out of the park, and proven themselves worthy of more general appreciation, even, to a degree: Punch Drunk Love was in this zone... ...But this has proven itself not to be such a film - a lot of talk about it's quirky strangeness worthy of being mentioned alongside the works of Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Charlie Kauffman, Gondry, Jonze and the rest, is flattery beyond what is reasonable, because basically, this feels like an attempt to bottle and commercialise, or otherwise cash in on the vibes and themes that those other master film-makers do - to tap into their wild, surreal, yet insightful genius, and claim it for their own. This wants to be a Wes Anderson movie, or a Paul Thomas Anderson movie, better yet. Wes Anderson directing a Paul Thomas Anderson Kauffman story, and reeks of pretentions to this... indeed it is, therefore: Pretentious. And while, on the surface of things, it should be an interesting confounding story of a man who feels nudged out of an enterprise by usurping, shallow former friend hiring a couple of, um, existential investigators to follow himself around, and get the bottom of his existence, and discover if life rests upon the intricate relationship of a causal interconnectedness of things, with meaning or purpose in it's design, or if it's all just one great coincidental mess, with no point or purpose to the circumstances of life... (Phew! - I told you it was pretentious!!!) ...It actually dissolves into an uninteresting, incomprehensible mess of parts. .......And you become increasingly aware as the movie goes on, that it was only a half baked idea to begin with, that on paper, may have made the actors involved look with relish at such an interesting concept, and script, probably with those other movie makers works in mind, like they would get the chance to be involve in something like that, with the same results. But sadly, no. This feels very much like nobody involved even understood what it is those other guys actually do, but thought, let's just be strange, wordy, and make it look and feel like one of those we've achieved it... if it's purposely obscure, it must mean something, and people will be believe it too, and nod reverently at us for having made something so profound, and brilliant. (For some reason, that Turner prize winner of the painting made with poo springs to mind, that everyone got very frowny, obsequious, and celebratory about :) For this is a piece of shit. First, look at the cast: Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts, ad Jude Law... yeah, enough said. And then, I think the cardinal sin, is trying to all of those other film makers at once, and therefore loses the definition, and distinctiveness, both in substance and style which is each their own, and makes their movies work. It therefore feels messy, flat, bland, and uncompelling. Granted, there are one or two moments of inspiration, such as the blanket analogy of reality, which I enjoyed, but then went beyond ridiculous to plain embarrassing in the "surreal" moments of seeing Schwartzman as a baby being breast fed by a grown man with hairy tits - an image I never want in my head again! - or the slow motion "passionate sexual abandon" in the woodland, covering each other with mud, and being really depressingly sad to look at. Many other things just feel like amateur theatre ideas and playground gimmicks dressed up as something important, but it just made me wince. And, although promising to begin with, the telling line: "That September thing" seeming to allude to what this was all about really, given it's historical proximity to 911: A shattered faith, and psychology of a people after that catastrophic event, seeking to make sense of an equally shattered reality trying to find meaning, and purpose in life where everything is apparently called into question... ...But this never lives up to it, and just meanders along until the end, and doesn't get good at any point. So, I can now file this in my brain as watched, and can advise anyone else curious about it because of what they may have heard about it, that on this occasion, you can give this a miss, it won't ever (I hope) become regarded as a beloved classic, or culturally important in any way. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 19th Apr 2023		Cinema The Iron Giant (1999) (1999)	Rated 9/10 I have vague recollections of being made to read the Ted Hughes story at school of this; Originally titled: The Iron Man. ...I am somewhat sketchy about it now, but the lasting impression of it being a very haunting, sad feeling tale of the giant robot from outer space arriving on earth to be befriended by a boy, with the same depth of warmth and feeling as one of those early Oscar Wilde short stories... (Better than the plays and witticisms he is generally known for! - saw an animated version of The Happy Prince at school, which has scarred me for life, and lodged it firmly in my soul ever since! - devastated!!!) ..And it has always jarred with me... seemed odd to me, that Mister Serious McFrowny pants intellectual poet Ted Hughes could be responsible for this, but Brad Bird does a bang up job of capturing the feeling of the book that stayed with me all this time. Due to the setting of 1950s America, against a backdrop of Sputnik, the Cold War, and imminent Nuclear destruction, the general underlying themes of advancing and advanced technology posing a threat to humanity, and the boy who sees otherwise in this robot visitor (And all that this implies :) probably makes this a bit too much for very small children, but maybe early teens and up would be a better audience - so if on TV, more early evening than morning. And there's lots for older (ahem) viewers to like, in the subtle light wit, and humour that's here throughout. A wonderful animated movie! ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 19th Apr 2023		Cinema The Big Sleep (1946) (1946)	Rated 6/10 How disappointing! Another one of those I'd sought to cross off my list, that comes with a huge, and legendary reputation... ...And while of course, it essentially patents the formula for the twisty turny private investigator noir movie, I found it unnecessarily convoluted, and the plot complicated, and a little difficult to follow. What was amusing was the old stereotype of the characters talking in very quick, clipped sentences of this era: "You know what I mean see...?", "I do, see...?", "Oh you do see..?", "Oh yes I do, see...see...!".... "I see!" etc. But that was mostly I think, because it felt they trying to cram too much dialogue and plot into too short a runtime, so it feels hurried. It did gradually, mildly engross me towards the end, but I was getting quite non-plussed and even slightly bored with it until then. (Oh, and while I Appreciate Humphrey Bogart is, of course, Humphrey Bogart, swimming in his Bogart-ness, I can't fathom why every single girl and woman in this thinks he's "Cute" and can barely keep themselves from falling over in swoons every time they encounter him... what the hell is that about?) Overall... meh. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 15th Apr 2023		Cinema 君の名は。 (Your Name) (2016) (2016)	zab, could you put these reviews and links in comments instead please? Reviews are really intended for members own words and opinions, however brief or extensive they may be.
Magic Marmalade 1st Apr 2023		Cinema 37°2 Le Matin (Betty Blue) (1986) (1986)	Rated 9/10 Classic French romantic tragedy. Along with the nineties': Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt) a movie from a non-English speaking country which transcended national boundaries, and punched through into a broader International consciousness... And like Lola, the poster alone became an iconic emblem of the time every bit as much as the movie itself. And while in this case, it's prime selling point that brought it to the wider audience was the rather, um... - if perhaps graphic would be the wrong word to use on it's own, then maybe illustrative -matter of fact sex scenes right from the first shot, which reputationally, have rather overshadowed the substance of a great, and haunting movie with a tragic, brilliant story. Jean-Hughes Anglade's Zorg, is a bit of a drifting, easy going wannbe writer, bumming along from menial job to menial job with all his dreams always in the never never land of tomorow, or some way down the road. He happens to have scored (to use the common vernacular) big time, in hooking up with the feisty, intense Betty, played by Béatrice Dalle, who seems to complete his vision of a free and easy life of sun, sand, sex and fun. So far, so good. ...Except, Betty's zest and intensity reveal themselves to be more than just a lust for life, and a reasonable passion for Zorg, for as their relationship develops, and Zorg begins to unconsciously fall for and accept Betty as a more permanent fixture in his life, she becomes more obsessive about him, and cajoling in trying to make him more of a doer than a dreamer, pushing him to get his work published, and abandon his more itinerant lifestyle... and her methods become gradually more extreme and eye-brow raising. Fr what transpires is that she is labouring under the heavy dark could of a growing storm of profound mental illness, which Zorg, is now emotionally obliged to try to assuage, and try to save Betty, or at least manage her, because now he loves her. It becomes a tough, but hauntingly beautiful watch the further in you get, as what began as fun, and joyous in seeing a burgeoning youthful love affair becomes a dark, and tragic relationship. So, if you can get past the opening sex-bout, and concentrate on the story therafter, you have an all-time classic tragedy, as well as a quite important movie from the late eighties, and as well as the movie itself, the simple, devastating piano theme will stay lodged in your head and haunt you long after the film is over. Simply brilliant. (Great poster too! :) 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 25th Mar 2023		Cinema Magnolia (Mag·no'li·a) (1999) (1999)	Rated 10/10 A curious blend of dark, gritty and tragic with the bizarrely comic and absurd. Still is, and ever will be Paul Thomas Anderson's Masterpiece. An ensemble character study of a collection of people who are either closely related or more loosely so, but all bearing some relationship to the others by degrees, and how those relationships change when set against a surreal set of circumstances which act as a catalyst: ...A couple pretty offensive types who are broken down during the course of the movie to reveal their humanity, while other more genial ones are revealed to have the darkest undertones, and even a few weaker people discovering some real strength, A must see. Very moving, well orchestrated, quirky, odd, and has Philip Seymour Hoffman's most devastatingly human role as a carer for the terminally ill, Tom Cruise doing the full obnoxious bit (initially), before turning in a: "Should have got an Oscar" performance, and a brilliant set of soundtrack songs by Aimee Mann. (but the whole cast is excellent too). Watch it... Watch it now! :) ((I copied and edited this review from my own review on the DVD page)) 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 25th Mar 2023		Cinema Pretty In Pink (1986) (1986)	Rated 8/10 Along with it's counterpart: Some Kind Of Wonderful, a film I grew up with, and still an unguilty pleasure. Archetypical eighties high school melodrama: Poor girl loves rich boy, their friends from rich world / poor world don't mix, and make it hard for them etc. tears, tantrums, cheeeeeese. (Does have a Cure tune in the soundtrack, as well as the brilliant title track, so not a total disaster in that respect) Except here, in this epic slice of dated cheese, the thing that makes this is the Father / Daughter relationship between Ringwald and Harry Dean Stanton, and shows why he is one of my favourite actors of all time. (James Spader also showing why he was king of the eighties high school baddies too :) You don't need CGI to add depth to a movie, and make it immersive, you just need Harry, or someone like him. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Magic Marmalade 15th Mar 2023		Cinema Manhattan (1979) (1979)	Great movie, but given subject matter... capital YIKES! (Great if you can get past shifting very uncomfortably in your seat about Woody Allen's character dating a school-girl)

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